GENEROSITY THAT
2025
Hockey legend Lanny McDonald experienced a cardiac arrest that nearly claimed his life. Now, he champions access to excellent cardiac care for all. Lanny McDonald’s greatest comeback
On February 4, 2024, Lanny McDonald’s heart stopped. He had just returned to Calgary after attending the NHL All-Star Weekend in Toronto when he collapsed at the Calgary International Airport. The former NHL right winger was quickly transported to Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary’s epicentre of cardiology. Lanny was in critical condition when he arrived and was quickly put under the care of the cardiac care unit, which took him to one of the hospital’s six cardiac catheterization (cath) labs. Cardiac catheterization is a set of minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures that use a long, narrow tube called a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or the arm and then guided up to the coronary arteries. From there, cardiac teams can view and assess the health of the blood vessels, valves, and muscle of the heart. In the cath lab, a coronary angiogram revealed that Lanny had coronary artery disease. The former Calgary Flames captain underwent quadruple bypass surgery, performed by cardiac surgeon and aortic specialist Dr. Holly Smith and her team. Eight days after surgery, Lanny required a second surgery to implant a cardioverter-defibrillator, a device that continuously monitors heart rhythm, detects electrical issues, and can also act as a pacemaker if needed. Lanny is deeply grateful for the care team that saved his life: “I was very fortunate to have great doctors and people who gave me advice and attention along the way,” he says. “I owe so much to everyone who helped get me back on my feet so Ardell and I could celebrate our 50th anniversary a year and a half later.” “It’s important for all of us to give back,” encourages Lanny. “In my case, having gone through everything I have, you realize how fortunate you are to be given
a second chance. If you can help one more person, then you’ve done a good deed.” Dr. Smith notes that, through a collective effort inspired by Lanny’s story, we can continue to strengthen and sustain our city’s world-class healthcare. “Lanny’s story is extraordinary, and it represents what many other families go through when faced with a medical emergency,” she says. “Donor funding is essential for providing excellent care to the cardiac patients we serve, and is very appreciated by everyone who works within the healthcare system.” “We take our health for granted,” states the hockey legend. “More importantly, we take our healthcare for granted. Then suddenly you need it, and you realize how lucky you are to have access to the kinds of qualified people like the ones we have in Calgary.” When reflecting on what we can learn from his brush with death, Lanny has this wisdom to impart: “No one believes they’re going to be the next one. I was walking four to five miles a day, thinking I was in great shape, until I went down face-first at the airport. You think you’re fine until reality sneaks up and hits you like a sledgehammer.”
“I feel like the luckiest guy you could imagine.”
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If you have the opportunity to give back and donate, you should because you never know, it might be someone in your family next. You’ll be so happy knowing you’ve played a part in their care.
– Lanny McDonald
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CALGARY HEALTH FOUNDATION
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